If a Cub Scout has completed the first grade (or is 8 years old) and has earned the Bobcat Badge, he may start earning the Wolf rank. He receives a Wolf Scout handbook, Wolf neckerchief, and Wolf neckerchief slide when beginning the Wolf portion of the boy scout trail. He will also need a blue Cub Scout Uniform. This part of the boy scout trail is intended to take one school year, preparing the scout to begin earning his Bear rank after he completes second grade.

Your Wolf den will have opportunities to participate in Pack meetings. Prepare your scouts by having them ready to perform a couple of Skits and lead the pack in some Games. By having a Wolf favorite ready, your scouts will look good, have fun, and increase their confidence through leading the pack.

After earning the Wolf badge by completing 58 of the 74 available achievement tasks, the scout may earn arrow points by completing electives. There are 12 achievement areas and 23 elective topics that might interest your scouts.

The Wolf badge must be earned first before any arrow points are awarded. A gold arrow point is awarded for the first 10 electives. A silver arrow point is awarded for each additional 10 tasks completed. Since all arrow points are awarded after the Wolf badge is awarded, your scouts will not receive any awards until February at the earliest. This is not consistent with the philosophy that frequent recognition boosts participation and sense of achievement. To provide frequent recognition, Wolf scouts can earn Progress Beads - you need to buy these Progress Towards Ranks Kits at a Scout Shop. For completing the requirements of 3 of the Achievements listed below, one YELLOW bead is awarded and placed on the Progress Towards Ranks totem. This provides the scout with a total of 4 beads culminating in the award of his Wolf badge. These beads are awarded at the den level rather than at Pack meetings.

Much of the advancement for the Wolf rank is done by the scout with his family outside of the den. The parent signs off in the scout's handbook and the Den Leader records the advancements from the handbook to tracking chart or software program. As the Tiger program was completely family oriented, so the Wolf program relies heavily on family involvement. You will see this gradually change with the scout doing more with his den and more individual direction as he reaches Webelos and Boy Scouts.


Wolf Uniform

The uniform is an important part of the Scouting program as it has been since scouting was first started. The uniform identifies the boys and adults with Cub Scouts and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts should wear their uniforms to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.

The uniform for the Wolf Cub Scout is the official blue Cub Scout shirt, Wolf neckerchief, and slide. The official Wolf cap and blue web belt with a Cub Scout buckle are optional.

The Wolf den leader wears the official Cub Scout leader uniform, Wolf neckerchief, and slide.